Seven-Day Detention for Monk Accused of Aiding Thailand-Sri Lanka Drug Smuggling

COLOMBO (News 1st); The court granted permission to detain and question Venerable Agunukolaye Amitananda Thero for a period of seven days over allegations of aiding and abetting the transportation of a stock of narcotic drugs from Thailand to Sri Lanka using 22 young monks.

The order was issued when the suspect monk was produced before Additional Magistrate Subhani Abeysekera at the Negombo Magistrate’s Court.

Earlier, the Police Narcotics Bureau arrested 22 monks at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake, after seizing a stock of narcotic drugs weighing over 110 kilograms.

The drugs, identified as kush and hash, had been meticulously concealed inside travel luggage and brought into the country from Thailand.

Following the arrests, Venerable Agunukolaye Amitananda Thero was taken into custody on suspicion of providing assistance and facilitation for the trafficking operation.

The suspect monk was produced before court at around 4.00 p.m. today.

Reporting on the progress of investigations, officers of the Police Narcotics Bureau informed court that the suspect had been arrested under Section 54 (1) of the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance on charges of aiding and abetting narcotics trafficking involving prohibited substances.

Investigators further informed court that the suspect monk had been produced before a Judicial Medical Officer, and blood sample analysis had confirmed the presence of narcotic substances in his bloodstream.

Police also told court that three mobile phones belonging to the suspect had been taken into custody. Investigations have revealed that a WhatsApp group used to coordinate the drug trafficking operation had allegedly been administered by the suspect monk.

Citing the need to conduct further investigations, officers requested court approval to detain and question the suspect.

Appearing on behalf of the suspect monk, counsel informed court that no bail application would be made at this stage, adding that an application for bail would be considered on a future date.

Thereafter, the Additional Magistrate questioned the suspect monk as to whether he had anything to say. In response, the suspect stated that “this happened due to ignorance.”

After considering the submissions, the Additional Magistrate granted permission for the suspect monk to be detained and questioned.

The court also directed investigating officers to submit a detailed forensic analysis report of the seized mobile phones at a future date.